Cities with dense semi-rural population? (middle-class, real estate, houses)

[TheHurricaneKid]

I like areas with a dense semi-rural area, similar to the ones found on the outskirts of Boston. These dense rural areas go on for miles mixed in with suburban areas, with no shortage of lots that are one, two, or even three acres. There are plenty of small family farm stores,with mom and pop stores and restaurants mixed in the area where the small towns congregate. Boston, a large city, is 30 minutes away.


I'd love to live in Boston except the homes that sit on such lots are EXPENSIVE NOW.

My family members were able to buy a house in the area on a nice sized lot for a fair price, though if you try and buy something like theirs now it's well in the half of a million dollar price range.


Thus, I am looking for a cheaper alternative to the New England farm feel, preferably not far from a some what large city, just like my folks were able to buy on a middle-class, two-person, no-kids income.

[JuanHamez]

In the St. Louis area, Town and Country and Ladue would fit your descriptions. There are vast tracts where every house seems to have a pool, tennis court, or pony stable. They are also not cheap though. Ladue has the reputation of being among the highest concentration of wealth in the entire country.

http://goo.gl/maps/aYd2K

[TheHurricaneKid]

I am not looking for a luxury house or luxury amenities.

My folks house is nothing special, it was an ordinary house when they bought it, you could get something like that in the south not too far from a medium-size city on a somewhat large lot in the south for 250K or so.

Problem is, it's not in a dense area and it certainly has no New England feel.

I would say you could find something like this not far from Miami, however like Boston, prices have went up like crazy.

[ckhthankgod]

So, are you looking for a rural area near a village that isn't too far from a bigger city?

[TheHurricaneKid]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

So, are you looking for a rural area near a village that isn't too far from a bigger city?

Sort of.

The house doesn't necessarily have to have a farm, but it should have decent acreage.

[bchris02]

Little Rock is known for that type of living. A large percentage of the metro population, now almost 700,000, lives in exurban communities rather than your typical suburban subdivisions. Cost of living is very low and I think the economy is doing pretty well there right now. Little Rock isn't a major city by any means but it does have many of the essential amenities.

[ckhthankgod]

Is something like this what you are looking for? https://maps.google.com/maps?q=onond...,311.3,,0,6.81

Or are you looking for something else, like a house like this: http://www.realtyusa.com/property/pr...ame=SyracuseNY

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=4766+...267.66,,0,7.61

[TheHurricaneKid]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Is something like this what you are looking for? https://maps.google.com/maps?q=onond...,311.3,,0,6.81

Or are you looking for something else?

I prefer slightly bigger lots, especially in the back yards so I could have a large veggie garden and room for a few fruit trees in the front.

It's found commonly in New England, though often times the houses are a bit fancier and bigger than I would like.

Here is actually a perfect sized house and lot, in the right neighborhood at the right distance away from town

https://maps.google.com/?ll=42.73437...334.96,,0,2.66

[TheHurricaneKid]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Is something like this what you are looking for? https://maps.google.com/maps?q=onond...,311.3,,0,6.81

Or are you looking for something else, like a house like this: Marcellus Real Estate - 4766 Howlett Hill Rd, Marcellus, NY, 13108

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=4766+...267.66,,0,7.61

Your second example matches what I am looking for rather well.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by TheHurricaneKid

Your second example matches what I am looking for rather well.

Ok, that area would be a good fit and the village of Marcellus kind of has a New England feel to it: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Marce...258.59,,0,6.61

It is in a very good school district too. There is plenty of shopping in nearby Camillus/Fairmount(town of Camillus) as well: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Fairm...171.59,,0,6.31

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Camil...,300.3,,0,7.11

You can find similar areas in other parts of the metro and probably Upstate NY as well.